Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: BARNACLE BILL on May 20, 2018, 22:15

Title: Comfrey tea
Post by: BARNACLE BILL on May 20, 2018, 22:15

I have started off some comfrey leaves in a tub with water. How long does it take for the nutrients to leech. And then do you dilute or feed it neat ...thanks BB

Title: Re: Comfrey tea
Post by: Offwego on May 20, 2018, 22:36

Hi Bill

I read somewhere that you mix 10 parts water to 1 part comfrey. I've stewed  a drum full for a year now and will be giving the runner beans a boast with it next weekend.
Hope that helps

Title: Re: Comfrey tea
Post by: Plot 1 Problems on May 20, 2018, 23:04

You'll know when it's ready as the smell could fell cattle at ten paces...

Title: Re: Comfrey tea
Post by: Goosegirl on May 21, 2018, 14:13

… and wear full protective gear so you look like a spaceman! For God's sake don't spill any over you, the dog, the cat, your OH, or anything else you cherish.

Title: Re: Comfrey tea
Post by: noshed on May 30, 2018, 17:49

I've given up on the tea because of the smell. I just put a few leaves in the bottom of my bean trench and put some more on the compost heap

Title: Re: Comfrey tea
Post by: Florablunder on May 30, 2018, 22:06

I seem to remember Monty demonstrating it on GW and saying 6 weeks, though that may have been nettle tea.

Title: Re: Comfrey tea
Post by: Plot 1 Problems on May 30, 2018, 22:24

Quote from: noshed on May 30, 2018, 17:49

I've given up on the tea because of the smell. I just put a few leaves in the bottom of my bean trench and put some more on the compost heap

Did warn you about the smell ;)

Personally I like to use the stinky brew to upset unknowing relatives and friends visiting the plot....

Title: Re: Comfrey tea
Post by: jaydig on May 31, 2018, 08:33

Quote from: Goosegirl on May 21, 2018, 14:13

… and wear full protective gear so you look like a spaceman! For God's sake don't spill any over you, the dog, the cat, your OH, or anything else you cherish.

I'll second that GG.  I have, before now, caught the watering can full of the stuff on the edge of the barrel and soaked myself.  Even after a couple of showers I could still smell it on my skin, and my husband said if I do it again I'll be walking home because of the stink in the car, even with the windows open!

Having said that, it's a brilliant plant feed.  I think they grow like made trying to get away from the smell.

Title: Re: Comfrey tea
Post by: AnneB on June 03, 2018, 16:12

I make mine in a barrel with a tap at the bottom.   I get an onion bag - orange mesh thing with drawstrings, and stuff it with as much comfrey as I can get in it.  I pop that in the barrel and fill it up with water and put the lid on - I use a stick under the lid to keep the comfrey bag submerged.

I find it has brewed sufficiently to use it undiluted after about 3 weeks, but if it lasts longer I do dilute it.

Title: Re: Comfrey tea
Post by: arh on June 03, 2018, 18:14

Thank you for that AnneB, that is what I will do.